Nov. 23, 2012 - Thornlea

So, why drama…
6
Part of an ongoing series
Kyra now.
It’s a question that we get frequently from parents and students: “Why would I
take drama I don’t want to be an actor.”
Fair question. I have repeatedly answered it, extolling the many virtues of an
arts education, and how confidence and presentation skills will be used in any profession
a student pursues, but of course a drama teacher is going to tell you how
great drama is. We’re kind of biased that way.
So last year I solicited former drama students, now in the professional world or
ensconced in university, years removed from their Thornlea Drama experience, to
reflect on how, years later, Thornlea Drama has helped them in their present endeavours.
Their answers were quite illuminating, and crossed a wide range of occupations.
Name: Kyra Kaplan
Graduated 2009
Currently at the University of Guelph, enrolled in the Bachelor of Sciences (Biological Sciences) program,
with interview offers from SUNY Optometry, Illinois College of Optometry &New England College
of Optometry.
When I was younger, I was a part of theatre both in school and outside. So when I came to Thornlea, it was
an obvious choice to take drama. I took it simply because I liked it! Plain and simple, it’s fun! But being a couple
years out of drama class, there’s so much that I learned. So here’s the biggest lesson that stood out for me.
One time, working on a scene where my character was bickering with another, I asked if I should be yelling.
The response was, "Do you think your character is losing the argument The first person to lose their temper
loses the entire argument." I don’t think I’ve yelled since then. Working on a script forces you to really internalize
what the characters are thinking - their motives, their desires, and how you can use your tone of voice, your
body language, and your facial expressions to convey that message. By so carefully studying these traits, I
learnt so much about people, how to interact with them, and how to discover my own motives and desires.
Drama teaches you the skills to investigate your actions and better understand yourself, as well as others. On
top of that, drama teaches you how to communicate with others, just as you would when preparing a scene.
Only this time, the character isn’t on the page. It is you - and sometimes finding out your own motivation can
be harder than a character on paper!
And there’s tons more. Drama teaches you
how to communicate with others and interact with
people. Drama taught me about teamwork and
compromises. The importance of being dedicated
to your project. How obvious it is when you aren’t
giving your 100%. About channelling creativity.
Thinking outside the box. It’s a complete different
way of thinking than any other class I’ve ever
taken, and I still use those skills in classes I take
now. About stress and time management, and
working on a deadline - which is one of the most
important skills you can learn.
Taking drama in school was one of the best
decisions I’ve ever made. It was a ton of fun, and
I met some of my best friends in Theatre 219.
Kyra then. Drama at Thornlea is definitely an experience like Kyra then.
nothing else!